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 Powerchords
Powerchords are the salvation for the rhythm guitarist.
They are also , without question, the most common and
popular chord, among rock and heavy metal, and even
the new country players have adapted the powerchord.
Construction of a Powerchord
It takes 3 notes to make a chord, major, or minor.
A Powerchord, consist of only 2 notes, the first and
fifth intervals of a major scale.A power chord is not
major or minor.It's a substitue chord, which can be used
to replace nearly any chord. As it consist of the first
and fifth intervals of a major scale, it's actual name is
a 5th, or fifth chord. It got the name Powerchord, by the
rock and metal players who plugged into a huge stack, and
cranked up the distortion. Below I have shown the major
diatonic scale in the key of A. There are 8 notes(intervals)
in the major diatonic scale. To build the powerchord, we
will use the first, and fifth intervals.
A major diatonic scale Intervals A Powerchord
e :------------------------------------------------------
B :------------------------------------------------------
G :------------------------------------------------------
D :------------------4--6--7-----------------------------
A :-----------4--5-7----------------7-------7------------
E :-------5-7--------------------5----------5------------
Notes A B C# D E F# G# A A E
Intervals 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 5
Fingerings
The best fingerings to use are index finger on the roote
note(the first note played that gives the chord it's letter
name, for example above, A note= A powerchord)and then use
the ring finger on the fifth interval.If you're a beginner
and having a hard time stretching, it's ok to use the index
finger on the fifth fret, and the pinky on the 7th fret.
Now that we have learned what a powerchord is and how its
formula, how it's built, the next thing to realize and learn
is that it's moveable. Meaning, that you dont have to change
fingerings to play a different chords. You simply move the same
shape up and down the neck, or to different strings.
Powerchords can be played on the Large E, A and D strings.
Next we'll learn the names of the powerchords. I am only
showing the natural named chords, keeping in mind that the
chords inbetween are sharps, and flats.The first chord is
an open E. To play the open chords, leave the top string
open, and use your index finger on the string below. Then
when beginning on the first fret, return to the fingerings
explained above.
Powerchords on the 6th sting, large E.
e :------------------------------------------------------
B :------------------------------------------------------
G :------------------------------------------------------
D :------------------------------------------------------
A :-2--3--5--7--9--10-12--14-----------------------------
E :-0--1--3--5--7--8--10--12-----------------------------
E F G A B C D E
Powerchords on the A string
e :------------------------------------------------------
B :------------------------------------------------------
G :------------------------------------------------------
D :-2--4--5--7--9--10-12--14-----------------------------
A :-0--2--3--5--7--8--10--12-----------------------------
E :------------------------------------------------------
A B C D E F G A
Powerchords on the D string
e :------------------------------------------------------
B :------------------------------------------------------
G :-2--4--5--7--9--11-12--14-----------------------------
D :-0--2--3--5--7--9--10--12-----------------------------
A :------------------------------------------------------
E :------------------------------------------------------
D E F G A B C D
Now that you've learned the powerchords, next, lets try
some fundamental chord exercises, from some very popular
songs.
Paranoid by Black Sabbath
e :------------------------------------------------------
B :------------------------------------------------------
G :------------------------------------------------------
D :-9-9-9-9--9-9-9-9--9-9-9-9--9-9-9-9--7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7--
A :-7-7-7-7--7-7-7-7--7-7-7-7--7-7-7-7--5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5--
E :------------------------------------------------------
e :------------------------------------------------------
B :------------------------------------------------------
G :-7-------7--------------------------------------------
D :-5-7--9--5--------------------------------------------
A :---5--7-----------------------------------------------
E :------------------------------------------------------
Godzilla by Blue Oyster Cult
e :------------------------------------------------------
B :------------------------------------------------------
G :------------------------------------------------------
D :----4--6-------8--9-----------------------------------
A :-4--2--4-6-7---6--7-9---------------------------------
E :-2-------4-5--------7---------------------------------
Rock You Like a Hurricane by the Scorpions
e :------------------------------------------------------
B :------------------------------------------------------
G :------------------------------------------------------
D :-9-9-9------------7--9-9------------------------------
A :-7-7-7-5-5--7-7---5--7-7------------------------------
E :-------3-3--5-5---------------------------------------
Big Balls by AC/DC
e :------------------------------------------------------
B :------------------------------------------------------
G :------------------------------------------------------
D :-9--9-8-7-5--5-7-8-9--9-8-7-5--5-7-8-9--9-8-7-5-------
A :-7--7-6-5-3--3-5-6-7--7-6-5-3--3-5-6-7--7-6-5-3-------
E :------------------------------------------------------
e :------------------------------------------------------
B :------------------------------------------------------
G :------------------------------------------------------
D :-5--7--4-4-4-4-4--------------------------------------
A :-3--5--2-2-2-2-2--------------------------------------
E :------------------------------------------------------
Free Guitar Lesson Videos Volume 1 Lesson Description
Sample One - Names Of Notes
Sample Two - Sharps & Flats
Volume 2 Lesson Description
Guitar Powerchords
Guitar Powerchord Execrise
See All You Can Play Guitar Instructionals
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